Introducing the Oral Judges of Science Castle Malaysia 2025

Get to know the esteemed individuals entrusted with evaluating the future of science and innovation. Introducing the panel of judges, where at the forefront of expertise and excellence, these judges bring deep insight, field experience and inspiration to Science Castle Malaysia 2025. Their role goes beyond evaluation but also to inspire, challenge and elevate our young innovators.

	Dr. Ezral Ghazali studied colloidal science at the University of Tsukuba, where he received his PhD degree. His research addresses fundamental topics in the sedimentation of flocculated clay material in water treatment. Previously, he has served as a Researcher at Industrial Biotechnology Research Centre, SIRIM Berhad, where he was involved in multidisciplinary research. While in Japan, Ezral has an active outreach program to bring excitement in STEM among elementary, middle school and high school students. Transforming young lives through science is now his biggest passion. Ezral received his MPhil from the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and his BSc (Resource Biotechnology) from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
	Mr. Zakaria holds a Bachelor of Information Technology degree from Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and began his IT career as a Business Analyst/Tester at Telekom Malaysia in 2005. He later transitioned into IT support by joining ATOS Origin Services as a helpdesk analyst, gaining valuable experience in end-user interaction and both first- and second-level technical support. His career path then shifted as he joined Northgate Arinso Sdn Bhd, a multinational company, as a Functional Test Consultant specializing in SAP HR, where he collaborated with global teams and worked with international clients such as Brunei Shell and AMP in Australia. A certified Test Manager, Zakaria contributed to projects for JPJ, CIMB, and Takaful Malaysia, with his final assignment in this area being with British Telekom Malaysia. Returning to Sarawak, he continued his journey with SACOFA as the Head of Technology, driven by a passion for IT service delivery and a desire to expand his skill set. In August 2021, he joined SDEC to be part of Sarawak’s digital transformation, with a strong intention to give back and contribute to his roots.
	Mr. Clement Cheong is a Director of Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad, appointed to the Board on 9 August 2021 and re-designated as Chairman of the Audit Committee in April 2023. He also serves on the Nomination and Remuneration Committees. A chartered accountant and Certified Risk Professional, Mr. Cheong holds an MBA from the University of Bath, England, and is a member of both the Malaysian Institute of Accountants and the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants. With extensive experience in auditing, finance, and risk management, he previously held leadership roles as Chief Internal Auditor and CFO in several major financial institutions. Currently, he is the Principal Consultant at a boutique consultancy firm specializing in internal audits, IPO control reviews, and corporate governance for public listed companies.
	Ts. Natalya Dato' Shamsuar, believes in nurturing excellence in STEM and communication through stakeholder collaboration. A seasoned jury member for various STEM and innovation competitions, dedicated to fostering innovation and guiding emerging talent. She is currently the Director of Strategic Marketing in MMU and had served as the Deputy Director of Entrepreneur Development, lecturer and specialist in the Faculty of Creative Multimedia, MMU. She is also actively involved with Parents Teachers Associations since 2014 and is a lifetime member of Women's Institute of Pahang.
	Dr. Hollena Nori is a Senior Lecturer in the Agrotechnology Program at the Faculty of Resource Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), specializing in Crop Physiology. She holds a PhD from Lincoln University, New Zealand, and degrees in Crop Physiology and Biochemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia. With over two decades of academic experience, she coordinates key undergraduate courses and serves as the Faculty Coordinator for Softskills and Basic Volunteerism, as well as Coordinator of the Plant Research Centre. Her research focuses on crop performance, indigenous rice varieties, sustainable agriculture, and ethnomedicine, supported by several national and international grants. Dr. Hollena is also an active contributor to scientific publications and supervises postgraduate research in her field.

We would like to invite high school students from Kuching to attend as visitors and observe the oral and poster presentations on 31 July 2025. Kindly fill in the visitor form https://linktr.ee/sciencecastle